Garmin Enduro 3 vs Forerunner 965: Which Multi-Sports Watch is Better?
Naila Syifa
Updated October 2024
Garmin Enduro 3 and Forerunner 965 are some of the advanced multi-sport GPS watches from the renowned brand. Enduro 3 is US$300 more expensive than the Forerunner 965, catering to ultra-endurance athletes with its extended battery life and comfortable design.
However, both watches offer a wealth of advanced features and performance-tracking capabilities, so it can be challenging to determine which one is the better fit for your specific needs and activities. We have compared them across 5 key aspects so you can make an informed decision on which one to choose.
Key Takeaways
Both models are well-equipped multi-sports GPS watches, but the Forerunner 965 mainly stands out for its AMOLED screen and spectator messaging while the Enduro 3 has higher water resistance, longer-lasting battery, more supported activity profiles, and some new features like sports-specific strength training and dynamic round-trip routing.
Garmin Enduro 3
The Ultraperformance GPS Smartwatch
✓ MIP Display
✓ Lightweight UltraFit Nylon Band
✓ Built-in TopoActive Maps
✓ 90 Days with Solar Charging
Garmin Forerunner 965
Premium Running & Adventure Smartwatch
✓ AMOLED Display
✓ Grade-Adjusted Performance Metrics
✓ Built-in TopoActive Maps
✓ 23 Days in Smartwatch Mode
#1 Design & Display
Garmin Enduro 3
While both watches have a rugged construction with a durable titanium bezel and sporty look, the Enduro 3 is superior with its Power Sapphire lens, which is not only more scratch-resistant than the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 DX lens of the Forerunner 965 but can also convert sunlight into additional battery power.
Garmin Enduro 3 is also rated for 10 ATM water resistance, which means it can withstand water pressure equivalent to 100 meters in depth. It is a higher rating than the 5 ATM water resistance of the Forerunner 965, so the Enduro 3 is better suited for water sports and activities.
Another advantage that the Enduro 3 has is its UltraFit Nylon band, which is designed to be lightweight and comfortable for extended wear during outdoor activities. In contrast, the Forerunner 965 comes with a standard silicone band.
One thing that the Forerunner 965 has superiority over the Enduro 3 is its brighter and higher-resolution AMOLED display, which offers a more vibrant and detailed viewing. The MIP display on the Enduro 3 is more power-efficient, but it has a lower resolution and may be less visible in challenging light conditions.
#2 Health & Fitness Features
Garmin Forerunner 965
Garmin Enduro 3 and Forerunner 965 can track a variety of sports, from running, triathlon, swimming, biking, mountain biking, skiing, basketball, to boxing and more. However, the Enduro 3 supports a wider variety of sports, thanks to its 95 built-in activity profiles compared to the Forerunner 965 with only 79.
The 16 activity profiles that the Forerunner 965 lacks compared to the Enduro 3 include:
● Outdoor Running: Obstacle Racing
● Outdoor Recreation: Hunting, Horseback Riding
● On the Water: Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing, Fishing, Boating, Sailing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing, Tubing, Snorkeling, Whitewater
● Cycling: BMX
Garmin Enduro 3 also has a new Advanced Strength Training feature, which can create 4-6 weeks of sports-specific strength training plans to cater to the needs and goals of athletes of different types. So, for example, a runner can get a strength training plan tailored to improve their running performance, while a cyclist can get a plan to enhance their cycling strength.
Despite these differences, both smartwatches are equipped with advanced performance metrics and training features, including PacePro, ClimbPro, Race Predictor, VO2 Max, MTB Dynamics, Daily Suggested Workouts, Training Readiness, Training Status, and so on. The health-monitoring features like heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, sleep, and Body Battery are also comparable between the two watches.
#3 Maps & Navigational Features
Garmin Enduro 3
Garmin Enduro 3 supports more satellite systems – GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou – which gives it better accuracy and reliability for location tracking and navigation compared to the Forerunner 965, which only supports GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.
The Enduro 3 also introduces a Dynamic Round Trip Routing feature, which lets you set a target distance and receive route suggestions that will guide you back on time.
However, both the Enduro 3 and Forerunner 965 share many common navigational features, including SatIQ for GPS mode optimization, NextFork Navigation, Up Ahead, TracBack, point-to-point navigation, and more.
Both watches also come with 3 built-in maps, including TopoActive maps, SkiView maps, and Golf Course maps.
#4 Smartwatch Features
Garmin Forerunner 965
Both the Enduro 3 and Forerunner 965 offer a range of daily smart features, including smart notifications, messaging, music playback, and Garmin Pay contactless payment.
The Forerunner 965 has a slight advantage with a spectator messaging feature, which lets users get motivational audio and text messages from loved ones during the race. Other race-related smart features are equally provided by both watches, including livetrack, group livetrack, and live event sharing.
Another exclusive feature of the Garmin Forerunner 965 is the Red Shift Mode, which is possible thanks to the AMOLED display. When enabled, Red Shift Mode turns the display into a low-light, red-tinted mode to help preserve night vision.
Despite lacking those two features, the Enduro 3 offers an integrated LED flashlight, which can be handy for outdoor activities at night.
#5 Battery Life
Garmin Enduro 3
Garmin Enduro 3 supports solar charging, so it obviously has a longer battery life compared to the Forerunner 965, which does not have solar charging capabilities.
In smartwatch mode, the Enduro 3 can last for up to 36 days or 90 days with solar charging, while the Forerunner 965 can last for up to 23 days.
In GPS mode, the Enduro 3 can last for up to 120 hours or 320 hours with solar charging, while the Forerunner 965 can last for up to 31 hours.
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Forerunner 965
Final Thoughts
Garmin Forerunner 965
Despite the name, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is more than a running watch. It supports a wide variety of sports like swimming, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, golf, and so on, though the Enduro 3 covers an even wider range of activities.
Garmin Enduro 3 also boasts superiority in terms of its long-lasting battery life, rugged design with 10 ATM water rating, comfortable UltraFit Nylon band, more comprehensive training features like the new Advanced Strength Training, and more support for multiple satellite systems.
However, the Forerunner 965 has some advantages as well, such as its brighter and higher-resolution AMOLED display, spectator messaging feature, and exclusive Red Shift Mode, all at a lower price point compared to the Enduro 3.
If you like to read more on smartwatches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Fenix 8
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Fenix 7 Pro
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Fenix E
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Epix 2
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Epix Pro Gen 2
Garmin Enduro 3 vs Instinct 2X
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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